Detained former MLA allowed to leave Apollo Hospital

Bhubaneswar: The former MLA of Telkoi, Keonjhar Chandrasen Naik who was earlier detained by Apollo Hospital for non payment of dues Rs 2 lakh treatment fee was today allowed to leave the hospital on the condition that he would pay the dues within one month. The hospital made him sign an agreement for the same.

The hospital has also warned the former MLA to take legal action against him if the fee was not paid.

Naik was under treatment at Apollo from March 2 after he complained of chest pain and was initially treated at the Keonjhar district headquarters hospital from February 28. At Apollo he was operated for cardiac issues and the family was informed that the expense would be around Rs 2.5 lakhs. The family members had deposited Rs 2 lakh after which the operation was conducted and he was kept in ICU for six days. He was ready to be discharged on March 11 but since dues of Rs 2 lakhs were pending that the family could not arrange, the hospital detained Naik and did not allow him to leave.

The former Congress MLA is presently a BJD member.

The issue of his treatment was also raised in the Assembly today. Speaker Niranjan Pujari has asked the State Assembly health service committee to probe into the matter. Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra had expressed grief over the issue.